The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is deeply saddened by the accident that claimed the lives of 13 school children in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng this morning.
COSATU sends its heartfelt condolences to the parents and wishes them strength at this time. The loss is all the more devastating because the deceased were young and still had their whole lives ahead of them.
Should the investigation into the crash reveal that the driver was reckless, he must be arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to the maximum period possible. Scholar transport operators must recognise that they have a responsibility to not only ensure their vehicles are roadworthy but also to drive safely to ensure tragedies of this scale do not occur.
It is equally critical that municipalities prioritise road safety including checking and enforcing our traffic laws, especially for those involved in public and learner transport.
Society as a whole must begin to prioritise safety on the road from driving cautiously, observing the rules of the road and being courteous to other road users.
Issued by COSATU
Zanele Sabela (COSATU Spokesperson)
Mobile: 079 287 5788 / 077 600 6639
Email: zaneles@cosatu.org.za
